Militant Abu among 4 killed in C’nawabganj militant den: Cops

-- All of them killed in suicide blasts

-- Identities of the rest 3 could not be known

-- Wife of Abu, a child brought out of the house

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-- SWAT ends operation “Eagle Hunt”

At least four people including Neo JMB leader Rafiqul Islam alias Abu were killed in suicide blasts at the suspected hideout in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj today, police said.

Identities of the rest three people could not be known immediately, reports our Chapainawabganj correspondent.

Read: SWAT hunts for 'Neo JMB' men in C'nawabganj

Members of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) ended their operation codenamed “Eagle Hunt” this evening, said M Khursid Hossain, deputy inspector general (DIG) of police in Rajshahi range.

Addressing a press briefing, DIG Khurshid said, “All of them died in suicide blasts”.

Law enforcers brought Sumaiya Begum, wife of Abu, and a child out of the “militant den” around 5:00pm and 5:23pm respectively.

Police took them to the district’s Sadar Hospital by two separate ambulances, reports our local correspondent.

Earlier in the morning, a huge blast and sporadic gunshots were heard. Media personnel, stationed about 500 yards away from the spot, have been hearing the gunshots since 9:00am, the correspondent said.

Law enforcers cordon off the hideout in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj on April 27, 2017.Star file photo

According to officials of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Neo JMB leader Abu, his wife and two children used to live in the one-storey house. He rented the house in February. Two other people may have joined with them recently.

The SWAT team launched the operation codenamed “Eagle Hunt” around 6:40pm yesterday, about two hours after reaching the scene.

According to CTTC unit officials, one Rafiqul Islam alias Abu, his wife and two children rented the house in February. Two other people may have joined with them recently.

They resumed the operation this morning as police last night suspended the raid at the house due to darkness.

Heavy sounds of gunshots and explosions were heard near the house till the last evening but no law enforcers were hurt.

The local administration imposed restrictions on gathering of people -- Section 144 -- in the area yesterday.